By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Beth McMillan has qualified to run for Place 3 on the Pelham City Council during the city’s upcoming municipal elections.

McMillan, who has been living in Pelham for more than 13 years, also ran during the 2008 municipal election, and said she decided to seek the council seat again this year after her supporters contacted her.

“I ran last time, and I had put it out of my mind,” McMillan said. “I had not even thought about it, and then I got several calls from people encouraging me to run again.”

McMillan said she would like to help spur economic development in Pelham, and said she would like to support the assets Pelham has, such as parks, schools and facilities.

“I want Pelham to stay great,” McMillan said. “I want everyone who lives in Pelham to be proud of their city.”

She said she would be open to pursuing any type of business development in an effort to strengthen the city’s economy, and said she would like to see Pelham offer more community centered activities.

“We have opening day at the ballpark, the tree-lighting ceremony and Pelham Pride Day. I’d like to see more of that, because those events build our sense of community,” McMillan said.

Two of McMillan’s children are Pelham High School graduates, and she has a daughter attending PHS and a son attending Riverchase Middle School.

She said her experience with Pelham’s schools give her an understanding of the issues facing families with school-aged children.

As of July 17, McMillan and fellow candidates Mildred Lanier and David Ladewig had qualified to run for the Place 3 spot. Pelham’s municipal election will be held on Aug. 28 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex.

“I will be able to listen to the needs of the people and discuss those needs with my fellow Council members to come to the conclusion that best serves the majority of the people of the city of Pelham,” she said.